Pastoral Counseling of Youth: Specifics and Potential

Every young person has their own story, joys, and problems that become particularly prominent during adolescence. Amidst the multitude of changes they experience, young people often don't realize they need help from those around them. In these transformations, it's crucial for them to find someone who understands them and can create a safe space for better comprehension of their internal processes. One method of accompanying young people is professional counseling, which has been accredited since 2022 as a professionally oriented bachelor's degree program in the field of social work at the Faculty of Theology of Trnava University. This specific collaboration between humanities and theology offers future graduates a study and training curriculum based on the foundations of social work, specializing in guiding people through challenging life situations. The aim of this study is to present the specifics of pastoral counseling for young people and to identify the potential of accompaniment during their maturing process.